Understanding the Impact of Products: An Introduction to the 11 Social Impact Categories

Every single product that has been made, is currently being made, or will be made has economic, environmental, and social impacts [1]. Simply defined, an impact is an effect or change. When we speak about products we typically talk about their economic effects, the effects they have on the environment, and the effects they have on the day to day lives of people which we call social impacts [2].

Sustainable impact in these 3 areas is referred to as “Triple Bottom Line Sustainability” and aims to capture the whole impact of products [3]. While environmental and economic impacts are well known and measures have been developed, understanding of social impacts is still developing [4].

Research done at Brigham Young University reviewed literature across a wide range of disciplines to understand the social impacts of products. This research grouped social impacts into 11 Social Impact Categories [4]. Breaking up social impact into categories helps us better understand the impacts products have on people and introduces us to impacts we might not be familiar with. Another study performed at BYU interviewed industry professionals and found that engineers primarily only considered Health & Safety impacts [5].

I highly recommend reading “The Social Impacts of Products: a Review” for a more in-depth understanding of social impact. The purpose of this article is to serve as a rapid-fire “Readers Digest” introduction to the Social Impact Categories. Once you know the impact categories you will start to see them everywhere. To introduce the categories I will show how many different social impacts a single car can have.

Health & Safety

The most obvious impact a car has on health and safety are the consequences of car crashes. However, cars are a great example of the variety of ways products impact our health. Car-ownership highly correlates with health care access and quality [6]. Driving means less walking and more sitting, which has a health impact, as well as stress caused by spending time in traffic. The air pollution caused by cars negatively impacts public health [7]. Cars can affect your diet, connections were found between transportation access and healthy diets [8]. Cars even affect your mental health. A study of senior citizens found that those who stopped driving were almost twice as likely to suffer from depression [9]. 

Education

Cars have a huge effect on education. Before cars, many small communities had 1 room school houses. The advent of the car has fundamentally changed public education in the United States. In addition to increased access to education on all levels, this has allowed for larger schools, which have benefits in the form of more diverse educational offerings such as AP classes in high schools [10] or more majors in colleges [11].

Paid Work

The introduction of the automobile allowed people to work in different areas than they lived in. On a macro level this led to suburbanization which increased wages and helped specialization and the development of multiple industries [12]. Not only does a car help transport individuals to and from work, but they lead to entrepreneurial opportunities. Uber, GrubHub, Instacart and many other companies allow those with cars to earn a profit delivering people, food or groceries.

Conflict & Crime

Cars have completely changed the nature of law enforcement in America. Cars have introduced new types of crime in traffic violations, car crashes, and car theft. Cars are used both as getaway vehicles, and as a tool for police to rapidly respond to situations. Data shows that traffic stops are now the primary proactive tool of police departments in regards to policing drugs and violent crime [13]. The practice of using traffic stops as the primary tool for policing has led to many questions about effectiveness and fairness especially towards minority groups [14]. Those who have had negative experiences with traffic stops are less likely to call the police to help in a dangerous situation or report a crime [14]. The complex nature of both positive and negative impacts on crime are easily seen looking at cars.

Family

I have so many memories of my family in the car. Road trips lead to great memories, but often tested my parents patience. Driving kids to and from school and after school activities can be a valuable source of family time. Sunday afternoons we often drove to visit relatives. Driving status and car sharing can be a point of contention in families where one spouse cannot drive, or in homes with teenagers [15]. The effect cars have on a family becomes apparent when your friend trades in their nice sports car and gets a minivan.

Gender

Cars have a huge impact on gender equality, empowerment, and expression. Cars represent freedom, mobility, and access to the public world. Some researchers have even suggested that car ownership and usage are a good barometer for measuring gender equality [16]. Cars improve access to health services, paid labor, civic involvement, recreation, education, and services related to household labor. Improved transportation has been shown to have large impacts on all these areas--especially for women in rural areas [17].

Human Rights

Human rights that have been identified by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) include:

“civil and political rights, such as the right to life, equality before the law and freedom of expression; economic, social and cultural rights, such as the rights to work, social security and education, or collective rights, such as the rights to development and self-determination, are indivisible, interrelated and interdependent [18].” 

It’s easy to see how cars have the potential to make access to these rights easier. However, it’s important to note that as societies are built around car access to these rights, a lack of access to cars becomes a huge human rights barrier. This has especially large implications for those with disabilities, those who cannot afford access to cars, and those who live in rural areas or areas with poor infrastructure such as indigenous populations.

Stratification

Stratification impacts refer to products that both separate or create divisions and products that mark such differences. Cars may be one of the greatest examples of a product that mark differences in class. Cars are status symbols and tell so much about the user. Think about the assumptions you might make if you see someone in a Ferrari, a BMW, or a 20 year old used Toyota Corolla. 

Additionally, cars provide access to labor and services that can often be the difference between being part of a lower socio-economic group and a higher one. One study found that unemployed individuals with a car were nearly 10 times as likely to find a job and leave welfare than those without a car [19]. 

Social Networks & Communication

Cars have had a significant impact on the way we connect and socialize with those in our circles. Cars took part in the spreading of families and friends and the lower-density housing of suburbs, but cars also help us visit and connect [20]. I can think of countless Sunday drives to visit grandparents, aunts & uncles, and close family friends. Whether we are commuting to work where we interact with co-workers, driving to visit family, or heading downtown to socialize, cars have an impact on who we interact with and how we interact.

Population Change

Population change impacts involve products that change birth or death rates, or where people decide to live. Cars are viewed by many as the driving force behind the growth of the American suburb and urban sprawl [21]. Cars enable people to live in different places than they work and this has had profound impacts on where Americans settle and live. The effect of cars can also be seen by the growth of towns close to major roads, and the shrinking of towns on old highways. Route 66 was once a lifeblood to many communities, but the growth of the interstate system drained the life out of many once prominent towns on Route 66 [22].

Cultural Identity & Heritage

Cars have had many impacts on the culture of America. Drive-thrus, drive-in theatres, road trips, and Sunday drives are a few examples of culture created by cars. Learning to drive is now a rite of passage for teenagers. Cars constantly show up in music, shows & movies. Cars even have their own cultures around racing, repairing, restoring, and appreciating them. 

Conclusion

The social impacts that products can have are abundant across a wide range of categories. The design of products and the impacts they have are intrinsically linked. As we as engineers develop greater understanding of the expected and unexpected effects that products have on the day-to-day lives of individuals, we can better wield the tools of engineering and design for the good of society.

Sources

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18. See http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Pages/WhatareHumanRights.aspx

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